Cartwheel galaxy
Cartwheel galaxy
A remnant of a large galaxy that has been distorted by a head-on collision with a small neighbor into a shape resembling a cartwheel. The ‘hub’ and ‘spokes' of the wheel are formed by the old stars of the original galaxy and are surrounded by a ‘rim’ of young blue stars and ionized gas triggered by a rippling outward shock wave.Collins Dictionary of Astronomy © Market House Books Ltd, 2006
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